My Thoughts on the Jets Potentially Acquiring DeSean Jackson

It was anything but a quiet Friday for the Philadelphia Eagles and more importantly the fans of the New York Jetson twitter also know as #JetsTwitter.

First, Mark Sanchez was officially signed by the Eagles, and fans were discussing whether or not Sanchez or the Jets were to blame of the failure of the former number one draft pick of the Jets.

Secondly, DeSean Jackson was released by the Eagles and heated discussion of the wide receivers past took over not only #Jetstwitter but all of the NFL on twitter.

I’ll be honest. I didn’t know much about Jackson’s past or present. I know he’s a great receiver but why would the Eagles cut bait with one of the best in the game after he just had a career year? Before I heard about his past, the rumors of his gang connections, or even his diva attitude with his club, YES, I wanted him on the New York Jets.

In the day and age of twitter, the information comes at you at tremendous speed. You don’t know what is fact or fiction. It is like trying to piece together a complicated puzzle as they fall from the sky and mix in with other puzzles.

My first reaction and still my belief is: If you are part of a gang, I don’t want you on my team. The only trouble is, was DeSean Jackson part of a gang? I have no idea. I don’t know what reports to believe, but I know this, the Eagles thought he was enough trouble to just cut bait. I mean, they tried to trade him, but in the end they get nothing for him. Jackson is now a free agent and can sign with the one of the reportedly many teams inquiring for his services.

The more I learn about DeSean Jackson however; here is what I have been able to collect:

Was scheduled to make $10.75 million with the Eagles. He was also going to account for $6 million in cap space. That now comes off the books. Was this a contract issue?

The Eagles had character concerns. The Eagles felt that if they paid a guy the most money on the team with character issues, they were sending the wrong message to the rest of the team. Did the Gang Member report push them over the top to release him?

The Eagles were concerned about his attitude, his work ethic, how he interacted with other people in the team facility.

The Eagles were majorly concerned about the crowd he hung out with off the field. This is where the debate begins. DeSean says he doesn’t hang out with a Gang, and there is a report that says he did in fact have ties.

The Eagles were shopping DeSean for a trade and were made aware of the NJ.com report (Gang Affiliation), and made their decision on Friday to release him. The existence of this story accelerated his departure.

Knowing all this, do I want DeSean Jackson on the Jets?

Man. This isn’t an easy yes or no for me. I know that his skill set would be amazing for the Jets offense and our QB whether it is Vick or Smith, both would benefit. It would open up the offense, free up the newly acquired Decker, and free up the Jets to use the 18th pick in the draft other than wide receiver.

I know that in the past I have had major issue with Santonio Holmes because of all the issue used above to describe Jackson, minus the Gang affiliation. Holmes was known as a distraction for the team. Some are calling DeSean Jackson “Santonio Holmes 2.0″ but I think that’s not even close.

DeSean Jackson is so much better on the field than Santonio Holmes. I always said that I can look past the character issues of a player only if you are producing on the field. That is exactly what happened with Holmes at least for me. He was an asset for the Jets in 2010 winning 4-5 games almost by himself down the stretch, but when his production decreased and his character issues increased, I was done with him.

Now if AND ONLY IF, DeSean Jackson has no ties with the Gangs, I would look past all his character issues and sign him to a short term deal. I’m sure that his camp is looking for a long term deal and with many teams inquiring for his services may get that, but if I’m John Idzik, I stand firm with a one year “prove it” deal.

As long as DeSean Jackson is not affiliated with any Gang, puts out tremendous production on the field, I can look past his “character issues” for at least this year. As a Jet fan, I would like the opportunity to reavulate my position as time goes by. I would not call it flip flopping, I would call this reassessing the new facts and decide my stance.

What Say You?!?

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If what say’s is true, “we’re in win now mode” then you have to try and get him. 3 yr. Victor Cruz type contract with $8.5 mil on the front end, $8.5 mil second yr. and $12 mil 3rd yr. which he’ll never see. You can release him after yr. 2 if he doesn’t perform. I think he can, if someone “can get him the Damn Ball”

http://www.jetstwit.com/ Erik Manassy

I like the idea that we can drop him after one year… yeah these multi-year deals aren’t really that…

Waxxon

I love the short term deals that Idzik has constructed…maximum future flexibility. Give him a big one-year contract with incentives for a 2nd year option or something like that. Draft receivers late and develop them.

http://www.twitter.com/netsjetsfan njfan

Yeah Erik, this is a no brainer, the Jets should try and sign him. Lets get the gang stuff out of the way, who cares? As long as he keeps that stuff out of the locker room, I don’t see what the big deal is. We have to stop expecting athletes to be role models…because they aren’t. Look no further than the children they have out of wedlock for proof. Anyway, even if he is a gang member, maybe its incentive for him to join The Jets only so he can take down all The Sharks out there [Westside Story reference]!

Anyway, here are my football reasons for signing him. As you said, he would be a great pairing with Decker. Even though Jackson considers himself a one, I think the Jets should use him as a two (meaning look for Decker first, then Jackson). It allows Decker to further develop and Smith/Vick know if Decker isn’t open, there is a good chance Jackson will be and since he has one talent, there should be no hesitation. Second reason is he allows for the development of the Jets other wideouts like Stephen Hill and even Cumberland. Neither player was “horrible” but a little less pressure on them will only help. third, and I am shocked no one ha mentioned it, now the Jets have a replacement PR and KR with Cromartie gone. He would fill two roles.

I’m with everyone else though, don’t mortgage the future to sign him. I like that Idzik is doing his best to get the Jets out of cap hell and while Jackson is a talent, I don’t consider him a difference maker (which is difficult to be at the WR position (except if you are Calvin Johnson)).

“I’ve been baptized previously, but the honor of being baptized in the same place that Jesus was baptized was something I could not pass up and something I’ll never forget in my life,”
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